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Heat Treatment On Magnesium Aluminum Zinc Alloy AZ91D
Heat Treatment On Magnesium Aluminum Zinc Alloy AZ91D
Heat Treatment On Magnesium Aluminum Zinc Alloy AZ91D
Overview
Introduction to Composites and AZ91D
Practical applications of Magnesium alloys and
impetus for further exploration
Experimental Tools
Experimental procedure
Results
Conclusion
Composite Materials
A composite material is a material comprised of
more than one element, wherein they retain their
physical and chemical identity.
o Ex. Plywood, chocolate chip cookie
Magnesium Alloy
Automotive
application of
Magnesium
Experimental Tools
Optical Microscope
o Nikon Epiphot 200
Scanning Electron
Microscope
o Hitatchi S-3400N
Experimental Procedure
Metallurgical sample preparation: Embedded all
specimens in a polymer to aid handling
o Steel, Aluminum, AZ91D control, AZ91D T4 treated, AZ91D T6 treated.
T4 and T6 treatments
T4 treatment heats the specimen to a temperature
based on the phase diagram for a period of 16-24
hours.
T6 heats the specimen to an aging temperature for
16 to 24 hours. (Pre-requisite: T4 treatment).
Magnesium-Aluminum Alloy
Phase Diagram
Magnesium.com
T6 Treatment
Vickers Hardness
Vickers Hardness
Steel
Aluminum
AZ91 Control
AZ91 T4 treated
AZ91 T6 treated
Test Load
Hardness Matrix
Standard
Matrix
Deviation
Dwell Time
Hardness Precipitate
Standard
Precipitate
Deviation
1961 mN
18
95.7
9.4
56s
22
100.7
10.9
4903 mN
30
152.3
4.4
56s
-----------------------
------------------------
------------------------
4903 mN
20
62.0
6.7
56s
20
79.6
8.9
4903 mN
20
61.7
9.1
56s
20
70.1
7.8
4903 mN
20
62.0
6.6
56s
20
87.2
12.5
Steel
Aluminum
AZ91 Control
AZ91 T4 treated
AZ91 T6 treated
Test Load
Hardness Matrix
Standard
Matrix
Deviation
Dwell Time
Hardness Precipitate
Standard
Precipitate
Deviation
1961 mN
18
95.7
9.4
56s
22
100.7
10.9
4903 mN
30
152.3
4.4
56s
-----------------------
------------------------
------------------------
4903 mN
20
62.0
6.7
56s
20
79.6
8.9
4903 mN
20
61.7
9.1
56s
20
70.1
7.8
4903 mN
20
62.0
6.6
56s
20
87.2
12.5
Steel
Aluminum
AZ91 Control
AZ91 T4 treated
AZ91 T6 treated
Test Load
Hardness Matrix
Standard
Matrix
Deviation
Dwell Time
Hardness Precipitate
Standard
Precipitate
Deviation
1961 mN
18
95.7
9.4
56s
22
100.7
10.9
4903 mN
30
152.3
4.4
56s
-----------------------
------------------------
------------------------
4903 mN
20
62.0
6.7
56s
20
79.6
8.9
4903 mN
20
61.7
9.1
56s
20
70.1
7.8
4903 mN
20
62.0
6.6
56s
20
87.2
12.5
Conclusion
The heat treatment process expedited the natural
rate of precipitate reconfiguration. The strength of
the material INCREASED after the T4 treatment and
DECREASED after the T6 treatment
The decrease in precipitates from control to T4
treated AZ91 as well as the decrease in the
difference between hardness values indicates the
material increase in strength.
The increase in the difference between hardness
values between the T4 specimen and the T6
specimen indicate an decrease in strength
Conclusion Continued
As the AZ91 ages (naturally or through an expedited
heating process) the specimen will first see an
increase in strength until it reaches its maximum
point of strength at an undetermined time after
creation. From that point, instead of plateauing,
the strength will then begin to decrease as the
specimen ages.
Engineers can use this data to tailor a material to
best fit a project.
o Ex. Making a sample weaker to be placed in the crumple zone in an
automobile
o Ex. Making a sample stronger to be used as a load bearing member in a
structure.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National Science
Foundation under grant EEC-1132482, "RET Site:
Science and Mechatronics Aided Research for
Teachers with an Entrepreneurship expeRience
(SMARTER)."
I would like to thank my colleagues in the
Composites Materials and Mechanics lab for
helping me in accomplishing the research work.